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Evangelist P. V. Varughese

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Evangelist P. V. Varughese www.kuwaitmarthoma.com Life of Evangelist P. V. Varghese 1 Evangelist P. V. Varghese (Kochukunju Upadeshi) Umayattukara 1899 – 1986 Life story of a Voluntary Evangelist For Private Circulation Nalloor Publications www.kuwaitmarthoma.com www.kuwaitmarthoma.com Life of Evangelist P. V. Varghese 2 Evangelist P. V. Varghese Kochukunju Upadeshi - Umayattukara (1899 – 1986) Varghese Upadeshi & Wife October 2006 Published by Thomas John Philip Nalloor Kurianoor – 689 550 Kerala, India [email protected] Nalloor Publications www.kuwaitmarthoma.com www.kuwaitmarthoma.com Life of Evangelist P. V. Varghese 3 Evangelist P. V. Varghese (Kochukunju Upadeshi) Umayattukara “Even lions go hungry for lack of food, but those who obey the Lord lack nothing good.” Psalms 34:10 This is the story of an ordinary Central Travancore farmer cum evangelist who lived an ordinary life and contributed significantly to the mission of the Mar Thoma Church. This evangelist had no more than an elementary education or access to any ideological books of great thinkers. He read only the Bible and connected books. According to worldly standards he was never rich. Till the end of his life he lived as a voluntary evangelist. He brought up his sons in the light he received through the reading of the Bible and listening to the messages of great 2men like Dr. Stanley Jones. But what then, is his great contribution? He is a true example of how ordinary people can transform their lives and others when they surrender themselves to God. Christianity was brought to India by St. Thomas an Apostle of Jesus Christ. St. Thomas landed in the Malabar Coast in 52 A.D. and converted many high caste Hindus and established 7 Churches. We do not know much about the history of the Christian Church in the first few centuries. Many visitors had recorded in their travel records the existence of a very active church in Malabar. Records are available about the visits of many church leaders from Asia Minor, Palestine and Persia during this period of time. The Malabar Church always welcomed foreign Church leaders without much enquiry about their faith and practices. The Church in Malabar remained almost an isolated church. The Malankara Church was an Independent Church even though it had a relationship with the Syrian Churches. It was not under the supremacy of any foreign Bishops or Churches. Portuguese sailor, Vasco de Gamma arrived in Malabar in 1498. He was a member of the Roman Catholic Church which owed its allegiance to the Pope in Rome. The Portuguese people under the leadership of an Archbishop named Alexis de Menezes convened the meeting of all church leaders in a place called Diamper (Udayamperoor) near Ernakulam in 1599. He succeeded by force in bringing the Malankara Church under the domination of the Pope. This state of affairs continued for 54 years. But the people objected this movement – they were concerned about the independence of the Church. They assembled in a Church compound in Mattancherry (Cochin) in 1653 and took the oath severing (cutting off) all connections with the Roman Church. This oath ceremony is known as “Oath of the Coonen Cross”. Thus once again Church became independent, but a portion of it remained with the Roman Catholic Church. Nalloor Publications www.kuwaitmarthoma.com www.kuwaitmarthoma.com Life of Evangelist P. V. Varghese 4 After the Oath of the Coonen Cross, the Malankara Church continued its relationship with the Patriarch of Antioch. In the early decades of the nineteenth century, missionaries of the Church Missionary Society came to Kerala. With the help of these foreign missionaries, the Bible was translated into Malayalam. The New Testament was published in 1829 and the Old Testament in 1835 and the complete Bible in 1841. Reading of the Scriptures in their own language (vernacular) enlightened the common man. These Missionaries even started a Theological College (Old Seminary) in Kottayam to train the persons becoming priests. Abraham Malpan was a teacher in this seminary. Abraham Malpan was born in the Palakunnathu family of Maramon in 1796. Abraham Malpan and Kaithayil Geevarghese Malpan were teachers in the Old Seminary Kottayam. Both of them tried to restore the church to its original purity, by casting away the prevailing wrong teachings and evil practices which had crept in by its association with other churches and religions in the course of time. Abraham Malpan gave able leadership for the reformation movement in the Syrian Church. He sent his nephew Deacon Mathew to the Patriarch in Syria, who was consecrated as the Mathews Mar Athanasius Metropolitan. Many were attracted to the reformation movement led by Abraham Malpan. Revival movement Revivalism is a special approach to religion or one’s faith that gives importance to individual religious experience rather than the main doctrines. It is always associated with fervent emotional singing, preaching, confessing, dancing etc. We had experienced many revival movements in Syrian Church. Tirunelvelli in Tamil Nadu was the birth place of revival movements in South India. It was started in 1860, by CMS Missionaries and came to Travancore through an unknown preacher called Mathai Upadeshi and carried on by Vidhuwan Kutty Achen (Rev. Justus Joseph). In 1864, Mathews Mar Athanasius Metropolitan allowed Ammal, the daughter of a famous Tamil convert, Vedanayaka Sastri, to visit the churches and inspire the people through her Christian songs. In 1873, Vidhuwan Kutty Achen became the leader of this movement. In 1894, Tamil preachers David and Wordsworth took over the leadership of revivalism. The Maramon convention was started in 1895. Later the spirit of revivalism was continued by the blessed leaders like CMS missionary Rev. Thomas Walker from Tirunelvelli in Tamil Nadu, Punchamannil Mammen Upadeshi and Muthampackal Kochoonju Upadeshi. According to Alexander Mar Thoma “The revival movement in Kerala owed much to the evangelistic zeal of laymen. In the early days of the Maramon Convention, two friends from Tamil Nadu, David and Wordsworth helped with forceful gospel messages. Sadhu Kochoonju Upadeshi and Punchamannil Mammen kept the fire burning for many decades, helping thousands to continue in spiritual joy and sacrificial living.”. Nalloor Publications www.kuwaitmarthoma.com www.kuwaitmarthoma.com Life of Evangelist P. V. Varghese 5 Umayattukara Mar Thoma Parish and Thekkattil Ninan Abraham Kathanar Thekkattil Abraham Kathanar was born on 1846 in Umayattukara (a place near Chengannur) as the son of Mathunny and Sosamma. He was ordained as a priest in 1868 by His Holiness Euyakim Mar Coorilos. Till 1893, he was the vicar of the Umayattukara Jacobite Orthodox Church. He was attracted to the reformation movement started by Abraham Malpan, and along with 18 families he joined the Mar Thoma Parish in Umayattukara and continued as their vicar. He also served as the vicar of the Othera and Pandanad Mar Thoma parishes. Achen passed away in 1917. Birth of Varghese Upadeshi – Plammoottil family in Thymaravumkara. Varghese Upadeshi was born in 1899, as the son of Plamoottil Geevarghese and Kochumariamma in Thymaravumkara. He was also known as Kochkunju. They were members of the Ummayattukara Parish. Thymaravumkara is a small village near Tiruvalla. Thymaravumkara Mar Thoma Parish was established in 1951. He was known for his faithfulness and loyalty and so the Church property was bought in the name of Varghese Upadeshi which he later transferred to the Church. Members of the Plammoottil family including Mr. P.V.Varghese were active members of the Orthodox Jacobite Parish, Ummayattukara. He was the Sunday School Headmaster of this Parish. He was interested in evangelical work which was not encouraged by the church authorities. Attracted by the reformation ideas, he and his family joined the Mar Thoma Syrian Church around 1924 when he was only 25 years old. From childhood Varghese was very active in the activities of the Church. After his basic education he became a voluntary evangelist. He was an active member of the Mar Thoma Voluntary Evangelists Association. Varghese Upadeshi a Village Teacher To the villagers, Varghese Upadeshi was a respected elder to all. He was an “Ashan” (teacher who taught young children basics before enrolling them in school). He was also an agriculturist who grew sugar cane, paddy and other crops. Formation of Voluntary Evangelists Association Consecration of Rev. M. N. Abraham as a bishop (Abraham Mar Thoma Metropolitan) was a great event in the Mar Thoma Church. He infused new spirit and vigour into the evangelistic work of the Church. He travelled throughout India and was a known figure in all the missionary circles as a great evangelist. He believed that every Marthomite is an evangelist. His vision and far sightedness led to the formation of the Mar Thoma Suvishesha Sevika Sanghom in 1919 and the Voluntary Evangelists Association in 1924. Nalloor Publications www.kuwaitmarthoma.com www.kuwaitmarthoma.com Life of Evangelist P. V. Varghese 6 Greatness of Abraham Mar Thoma Metropolitan Bishop Abraham strongly believed that evangelism was the responsibility of every member of the Church and not of the clergy alone. He emphasized that every man and woman was called to be the witness of Jesus Christ, irrespective of his secular occupation. It was this conviction that led him to organize groups of men and give them specialized training in personal evangelism. Thus the Voluntary Evangelists Association was established as a voluntary lay movement of the Church. The women of the Church also were encouraged to take their part in fulfilling the mission of the Church. He encouraged the formation of the Mar Thoma Suvisesha Sevika Sanghom, which is the women’s auxiliary of the evangelistic work in the Church. Every parish of the Church was encouraged to form branches of Voluntary Evangelists Association in their respective areas. Travelling Secretary of Chengannur Centre of the Voluntary Evangelists Association Varghese Upadeshi was very sincere in his voluntary evangelistic work.
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